Hard starting '14

[Donk]

My 2 month old, 1500 mile '14ES has failed to start on me twice now. It only happens first start of the day. It has only happenes in T mode. The bike cranks, won't fire then floods. Put it on the charger and go full throttle and it starts. It seems totally random, in fact the first time I thought it was bad gas as it continued to hard start then went away after a fill up. Second time was about a 5 weeks later but has started great since. Being old school I always start my bikes with the clutch in if that could make a difference? Dealers been great checked everything after the first incident and wants me to bring the bike back so he can go through it again. Has anyone had similar issues?

 

[Indyrider]

I've had a few slower starts after a day or two of sitting. Mine has about 1700 miles on it now. No non starts though(yet??) after about two months of ownership.

 

[Tremor38]

Wierd how some people get this issue to the point where the bike won't start. The only time I've had I've had a non start is when the battery was slightly low. Starter was spinning... just not enough voltage for the CDI to generate a strong spark. Obviously it's not the same cause in every case, but I think this bike is easily put in that state.

 

[Doug44]

My 2 month old, 1500 mile '14ES has failed to start on me twice now. It only happens first start of the day. It has only happenes in T mode. The bike cranks, won't fire then floods. Put it on the charger and go full throttle and it starts. It seems totally random, in fact the first time I thought it was bad gas as it continued to hard start then went away after a fill up. Second time was about a 5 weeks later but has started great since. Being old school I always start my bikes with the clutch in if that could make a difference? Dealers been great checked everything after the first incident and wants me to bring the bike back so he can go through it again. Has anyone had similar issues?

Very common on MY 2012-2013 do a search here should bring up many threads. My 2013 has done it several times one thing many have found out don't turn the key on/off and not start and ride away. ie you are working on a new electrical farkle and turn on the ignition several times without starting will cause this condition. Many times no rime or reason some even have had to pull fuse I believe to the fuel pump, crank with fuse removed, then install fuse and start. Personally I have cleared my hard start by holding throttle wide open and cranking.
::010::

 

[Donk]

Holding the throttle wide open when cranking does start the bike but I'd like to find the cause of the problem. Is it a glitch in the mapping or a bad sensor or what? Why does it only do it in T mode? Bike always starts better in S mode. Haven't had a bike that didn't start on the first crank in so long it I forgot bikes don't always start. Even my built bikes start right away!

 

[AVGeek]

Very common on MY 2012-2013 do a search here should bring up many threads. My 2013 has done it several times one thing many have found out don't turn the key on/off and not start and ride away. ie you are working on a new electrical farkle and turn on the ignition several times without starting will cause this condition. Many times no rime or reason some even have had to pull fuse I believe to the fuel pump, crank with fuse removed, then install fuse and start. Personally I have cleared my hard start by holding throttle wide open and cranking.
::010::

The other thing I have found when working on my 12, and wanting to switch the key on and off: the fuel pump won't cycle if the stop switch is in the off position.

 

[Postup]

Haven't had the hard starting issue yet but I learned on my Harley is to alway shut the bike off with the on and off switch then turn the key off. When starting I turn the key on then turn the on switch to the start button, I always listen for the fuel pump to pressure up first. I know I shouldn't be talking about a Harley on this site but it actually has an idiot that goes off once the system builds up pressure. Never had problem doing this on either bike. I have about 2700 miles on my es and almost always have it in t mode. Also loving every minute on this new bike

 

[scott123007]

Holding the throttle wide open when cranking does start the bike but I'd like to find the cause of the problem. Is it a glitch in the mapping or a bad sensor or what? Why does it only do it in T mode? Bike always starts better in S mode. Haven't had a bike that didn't start on the first crank in so long it I forgot bikes don't always start. Even my built bikes start right away!

Don, that should not make any difference. The bike does not know what mode it is in, until it is in gear, with the clutch let out. (That is, unless they changed something for 2014?)

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm going to go with this is a fuel injection thing. Never happened on any of my V-Stroms, but happens on both my Teneres. My wife actually reproduced the same thing under similar conditions (start, short run time, turn off, park for a day) in her Mazda CX9. Car acted exactly like the Tenere when it happened.

 

[fredz43]

I'm going to go with this is a fuel injection thing. Never happened on any of my V-Stroms, but happens on both my Teneres. My wife actually reproduced the same thing under similar conditions (start, short run time, turn off, park for a day) in her Mazda CX9. Car acted exactly like the Tenere when it happened.

Perhaps this may be a fuel injection problem with some Japanese systems. I say that because both my injected Chevy and my wife's Cadillac get frequent short run times as they are moved in and out of the garage to make room for me to move things, or when they are washed outside, then moved inside and I have never had that problem. My 2012 S10 had it once when I short cycled it and my 2014 has not had it, but I am aware to not do a short run time before shutting off.

 

[Andylaser]

The other thing I have found when working on my 12, and wanting to switch the key on and off: the fuel pump won't cycle if the stop switch is in the off position.

That is definitely worth remembering. Thanks .

 

[markjenn]

I believe this is the first report we've had of the "hard start" issue on a 2014. It might be a "one off", but it also might signal that whatever problem the earlier bikes have, it has unfortunately been carried over the to new ones. Time will tell.

There are numerous threads on this problem for the 2012-2013's if you want to read up. It clearly is flooding, but no knows the exact reason why every one out of every hundred (or thousand) starts, the bike suddenly floods before it starts. Cycling ignition power without starting and incomplete warmup cycles definitely appear to be contributing factors, but are not direct causes - you can cycle power a hundred times trying to duplicate the issue and the bike will start fine. Until it doesn't. If you're cycling power with the ignition switch without starting, it is a good idea to turn the engine cutoff switch off.

You certainly want to have the "hold the throttle wide-open while cranking" trick in your toolbox if the bike won't start in a short amount of time. This appears to engage a "flooded start protocol" in the fuel injection system which cuts fuel and opens the throttle plates to bring the mixture down to a combustible one.

- Mark

 

[munsterlander]

I've experienced the problem one time on my 3 month old '14. Could not start it. Luckily this was at home in my garage. I came back a few hours later and it started fine. I'll have to try the WOT trick next time.


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[Donk]

Since it happened the second time which was about a week and a half ago the bike has started fine every time. The only thing I'm doing differently is leaving the clutch out while starting (if I remember, old habit die hard). I don't think it makes sense to take a bike that's starting fine and running great to the dealer. What could he possibly do? Maybe see if it threw a code?

 

[markjenn]

Maybe see if it threw a code?

Never hurts to look. But probably a wild goose chase. There are literally hundreds of "hard start" instances on this forum and I don't recall a single one that ever threw a code, even when owners trucked the bike to dealers and had them deal with it. I don't think Yamaha's self-diagnostic routines on the S10 are any too sophisticated..... very seldom does the bike give much clue to problems.

- Mark

 

[sandro1973]

The other thing I have found when working on my 12, and wanting to switch the key on and off: the fuel pump won't cycle if the stop switch is in the off position.

New owner here...i've noticed the same thing and have usually started the bike by doing 1# Key On 2# ignition switch ON 3# about 5 seconds later, push Start.

When i do this, i never hear the fuel-pump cycling...can this make for harder / slower starting ? My mechanic ( and he's a very good one ) tells me i should turn the bike OFF on the key and not the Kill-Switch

After spark-plug change, FI clean-up, adjusted valves, i'm noticing slower cranking and today, imediatelly after starting, it died ( 2nd attempt it fired up ok. )

Oil was changed from 10W-40 to 20W-50, bike runs MUCH better than before, less noisy, no lag on the first 3 gears ( usually i had to go over 3.000 rpm to get it properly going ).

 

[sandro1973]

Following the Manual and indication given by my mechanic....

1# Kill-Switch ON
2# Key ON ( you can hear the fuel pump, this doesn't happen if you cycle the key 1st and only then put the kill-switch to ON )
3# hit Starter

Turning the bike with the key sounds more clean and immediate and doesn't make the additional noise of something else turning off you usually get when shutting down on the kill-switch.